I’ve just been re-reading Bernard Donoughue’s Downing Street Diary and stumbled across the following entry:
Tuesday 20 January 1976
“I raised the question of the future of the New Statesman with him. Its circulation is now down to 33,000 and he wants Kissin and Lever* to buy it. He had told Kissin he would do the negotaition, but now wants to stay out of it and let them do it.”
Thank goodness Downing Street no longer meddles in the affairs of Britain’s premier political magazine.
*Harry Kissin (1912-1997), later Lord Kissin,was chairman and director of various City companies, adviser to Harold Wilson and funder of the political office.
*Harold Lever (1914-98), later Lord Lever was Labour MP for Manchester Central. He held various government posts including paymaster general and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.